Europe's top clubs defy economic gloom
Reuters - Thursday 09 February 2012, 00:00
Revenue at Europe's 20
leading clubs has increased again despite the economic crisis
shaking many countries across the continent, business advisory
firm Deloitte said in a report published on Thursday.
Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona maintain the top two
slots in Deloitte's Football Money League, followed by
Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Chelsea, the
report said, based on revenue for the 2010/11 season.
"Continued growth of the top 20 clubs during 2010/11
emphasises the strength of football's top clubs, especially in
these tough economic times," said Dan Jones, partner in the
Sports Business Group at Deloitte.
"Whilst revenue growth has slowed from eight percent in 2009/10
to three percent in 2010/11, their large and loyal supporter bases,
ability to drive strong broadcast audiences and continuing
attraction to corporate partners has made them relatively
resilient to the economic downturn," he added.
The top 20 generated 4.4 billion euros in
revenue, more than a quarter of the total for European football
as a whole.
Spain has been one of the European economies hardest hit by
the euro crisis but Real Madrid and Barcelona are global brands
that can be marketed to international viewers and sponsors.
"In much the same way as the Premier League is for England,
they are very successful exports for the Spanish economy,"
Jones told Reuters.
"The challenge for Spain is that these two are so far ahead
of the rest on and off the pitch."
Valencia, in 19th spot, were the only other club to make the
top 20. The gulf between the rich and poor is wider in Spain
than other countries because clubs sell TV rights individually
rather than collectively.
BELT TIGHTENING
The top 20 - who make up the world's highest earning clubs
- are drawn from the big five European leagues. Six are from
England, five from Italy, four from Germany, three from Spain
and two from France.
The value of the Champions League was underlined as German
club Schalke 04 jumped six places to make the top 10 for the
first time on the back of reaching the last four of the premier
European club competition.
Revenue at Real Madrid was 479.5 million euros, against
450.7 million for Barcelona and 367 million for Manchester
United, beaten by Barcelona in last season's Champions League
final.
Deloitte warned that United were likely to fall more than a
100 million euros adrift of their Spanish rivals in the current
year after an early exit from the Champions League.
Big spending English Premier League leaders Manchester City,
backrolled by cash from Abu Dhabi, were 12th on the list while
Qatari-backed Paris Saint-Germain, who top the French league,
did not feature this time.
Many clubs continue to make big losses as they spend
heavily on players to try to ensure success on the field.
However, new rules introduced by European football's governing
body UEFA mean clubs must curb their losses or risk exclusion
from major tournaments.
"Football clubs have been very successful over the past 20
years at generating more revenue but less good historically at
cost control and that is what Financial Fair Play is there to
do," Jones said.
He said subdued activity in the January transfer window
indicated that clubs were getting the message.
"There is as much focus on cost control as there has ever
been," he added.